Timmermans: “We are in an emergency, but the real revolution is the environmental one”

SENT TO BRUSSELS. Squeezed between the crisis on the Greek-Turkish border and the Coronavirus emergency, which threatens to bring the economic and health situation in Europe to its knees, the EU recalls that there is also another emergency to face, which ended up on the back burner after the spotlight of the past months: the fight against climate change. “Although distracted by short-term challenges, we must remember that we face a long-term challenge,” says Frans Timmermans, number two of the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, who has made the Green Deal his workhorse. “But I believe that Mother Nature will continue to remind us of it – explains the Dutchman in an interview with some international media, including La Stampa -, therefore a revolutionary act like the one we have just adopted is needed …”.

Is your proposal for an EU climate law a revolutionary act?
“Sure. For the first time, the EU is legally committed to achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. This will be the law that will guide and bind all future EU laws “.

Despite pressure from many governments, including the Italian one, you have not included an emissions reduction target by 2030. Why?
“The percentage reduction in emissions by 2030 will be stable in September after an impact assessment. If we had presented it now, without a thorough examination, we would have been bogged down in endless discussions between states. Of course, I too would have preferred to get there before summer, but unfortunately the experts will not be able to finish the job before September. In any case, the level of reduction of emissions will be between 50 and 55% (compared to the value of 1990, ed.) “.

But so there is no risk of arriving late at the Glasgow Cop, scheduled for November?

“No, in September I will present the evaluation to the governments and I believe that the EU will arrive prepared for this appointment. In order to also convince international partners to go in this direction. We must seize the moment. ”

In recent days, the focus is entirely on the Coronavirus emergency and the situation of migrants on the Greek-Turkish border: discussions on the health of the planet are definitely in the background. Do you think citizens should be more afraid of climate change?
«We have to be worried, but don’t be afraid. Because these are problems that we will solve. But if we want to solve them, we must have a clear trajectory between now and 2050 precisely because in the next 30 years we will have other crises to face. I have heard some politicians, like the EPP group leader Manfred Weber, say: “We have other problems, this week we cannot concentrate on Greta and Timmermans”. But it is a wrong reasoning. Of course, Coronavirus and the situation on the Greek-Turkish border are a top priority. But this is precisely the reason why we need to secure a climate law in order to concentrate on the rest. “

Are you not afraid of the risk of a new economic and financial crisis like in 2008 that could cloud the action against the climate?
“There are several visions about the economic consequences of Coronavirus. Economics is not an exact science, but a social science. Some experts predict a “V” trend, others a “U”, today we still cannot know. However, compared to 2008 there is a big difference. At the time, NGOs and the scientific community already felt a sense of urgency on the climate change front, but this sentiment was not widespread in society. Now things have changed. Although distracted by short-term challenges, we must remember that we face a long-term challenge. And I am sure that Mother Nature will continue to remind us … ».

But many governments have already shown some resistance.
“It was they who committed themselves to the zero emissions target by 2050, we didn’t oblige them. The December European Council made a commitment and we are simply turning it into law, setting a legal constraint. “

Poland, however, has called out.
“We know very well that Poland has exceptional circumstances, but it is our duty to try to convince it with support and solidarity.”

The zero emissions target applies at EU level, not for individual countries. Do you really believe that it is possible to offset Polish emissions, given its size?
“This is precisely why we must bring it to reach the zero emissions target in 2050. I will do everything possible, even if it is politically complicated. But the benefits of the transition for the Polish economy and society are enormous, in terms of air quality, new economic development and employment. This is also why we have set up the right transition fund, of which Warsaw will be the main beneficiary “.

Will there be enough green funds in the next European budget? Negotiations between governments do not promise anything good.
“Of course if you don’t have enough money you can’t do anything, so you need funds. Governments asking to keep funding for old policies and adding more funds to new emergencies are off course. It cannot be realistic. The same goes for those who say that more must be done, but with less money. I believe that policies must be decided at European level because this is the only way to achieve the objectives. The climate crisis is just one example. This is why a compromise must be found between the two positions “.

Some governments, including that of your country, want a budget that does not go beyond 1% of the EU GDP. Will they convince themselves?
“I hope these governments can go back to their citizens and say: ‘Okay, the budget is slightly above 1%, but the additional funds will help finance a transformation that is necessary.”

You ask countries to spend, but many cannot because of the EU budget constraints: will there be a favorable treatment for green investments, as Italy asks?
«It is still early to say this because an evaluation of the EU budget rules is underway and I do not want to compromise this discussion. I talked about it with Paolo Gentiloni and I agree with him. It’s something we need to discuss because 260 billion of annual investments are needed to achieve the Green Deal’s objectives ».